60秒科学:Murchison Meteorite's Chemical Bonanza
Murchison Meteorite 1's Chemical Bonanza 2
The 1969 Murchison meteorite was known to harbor complex organic compounds, but a new analysis in Proceedings 3 of the National Academy of Sciences finds that it may also contain millions of chemicals and shed light on the timeline of the kinds of chemistry that went on in a much earlier universe. Adam Hinterthuer reports
The famous Murchison meteorite smashed into the Australian ground in 1969. Researchers then discovered that the space rock contained many organic chemicals, including amino acids—the building blocks of proteins. But a new study says that by focusing on the organic molecules 4 by which life on earth might have been jumpstarted, those scientists missed possibly millions of other cosmic compounds.
Using high-resolution structural 5 spectroscopy, a European research team [led by Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin of the Institute for Ecological 6 Chemistry in Munich, Germany] has probed the errant rock further and found more than 14,000 basic combinations of molecules. They estimate that those compounds indicate that millions of different chemicals are present in the meteorite. And that suggests an extraterrestrial diversity of molecules far greater than the chemical makeup 7 of Earth. The report is in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
According to the study, the Murchison meteorite is possibly older than our sun and picked up its chemical hitchhikers in the solar system’s infancy 8 as it passed through primordial 9 clouds. By further analyzing 10 the meteorite, researchers hope to understand its chemical evolution and create a timeline of the chemistry of our universe.
- The meteorite in Jilin Exhibition Hall is believed to be the largest in the world.吉林展览馆的陨石被认为是世界上最大的。
- The famous Murchison meteorite smashed into the Australian ground in 1969.1969年著名的默奇森陨石轰然坠落在澳大利亚。
- Bargain hunters enjoyed a real bonanza today.到处买便宜货的人今天真是交了好运。
- What a bonanza for the winning ticket holders!对于手持胜券的人来说，这是多好的运气啊。
- He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
- to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼
- The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
- Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。
- The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
- The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。
- The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
- Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.
- Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
- Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？
- He came to England in his infancy.他幼年时期来到英国。
- Their research is only in its infancy.他们的研究处于初级阶段。
- It is the primordial force that propels us forward.它是推动我们前进的原始动力。
- The Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial ancestors.的尼安德特人是我们的原始祖先之一.